Pointer for pencil lead



P 1944- N. EASTMAN 2,359,093

POINIER FOR PENCIL LEAD Filed Jan. 4, 1944' INVENTOR.

Patented Se t. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE v rom'raa ronPENCIL LEAD Nathaniel Eastman, New York N. Y. Application January 4,1944, Serial No. 518,965

. small end of the housing and this opening is of 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a pointer for pencil leadand is designedprimarily for use by architects and others requiring sharp points onpencil lead in order to execute their work properly.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compactandinexpensive structure into which the sharpened end of a lead pencilcan be inserted and brought to position where the exposed portion of thelead will be subjected to a wiping action by an abrasive material,thereby bringing the lead to a flnepoint and at the same time producinga dust which subsequently can be used for touch work.

A still further object is to provide a structure in which the abrasivematerial can be kept substantially free from accumulations of powderedlead so that it will constantly produce eiilcient service over a longperiod of time without necessitating any change.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed outin the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritof the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form 'of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a t p plan view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the housing portion of thestructure, the abrasive belt and other partsof the mechanism thereinbeing shown in elevation and a portion of the standard being also shownin elevation.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates thelower portion of a substantially ovoid housing which can be formedintegral with a support 2 or can be attached thereto if desired. Theupper portion of the housing is formed preferably of a plastic materialand has been indicated at 3. The upper edge portion of the lower sectionI is ofiset to provide a seat 4 extending lengthwise of the edge andthis seat is adapted to be engaged by the corresponding edge of the topportion 3. This top portion is slightly oversize so that it can beflexed to snap into position on the seat and thus be held assembledfrictionally with the lower section of the housing. The two sectionscooperate to provide an inlet opening 5 at the suillcient size toreceive a lead pencil.

Journalled within the lower section of the housing adjacent to therespective ends thereof arrow in Figure 3. Thus when a pencil having aare shafts 6 and I one which are mounted rolls 8 and 9. An endless beltI. is mounted on the rolls and has an abrasive surface H. The axes ofthe two shafts 6 and I are in aplane which is inclined relative to thehousing so that the upper flight thereof is extended upwardly andrearwardly away from a point adjacent to the lower portion of theopening 5 and will intersect the central, longitudinal axes of thehousing.

Extending transversely of and journalled in the housing at a pointbetween the shafts l and I and between the upper and lowerflights of thebelt Ill is a shaft if having a finger lt afllxed thereto and rotatabletherewith. This finger constitutes a tappet which is adapted tointermittently strike the lower flight of the belt ll at a point betweenthe rolls 8 and 8. For this purpose of effecting this operation, an'armI4 is extended from shaft l2 into the path of a tripping finger it whichis secured to and rotates with the shaft 6. Both the arm ll and thetripping finger I! are located beyond the sides of belt ll 50 that theyare free to operate without interference by the belt.

By means of a crank arm IG- or the like secured to shaft 6 and locatedoutside of the housing, the said shaft can be rotated by the user so asto cause the belt to travel in the direction indicated by the portion ofits lead exposed, is inserted through opening 5 into the housing, saidexposed portion of the lead can be caused to bear upon the abrasiveupper surface of the top flight of the belt so that as the belt movesrelative thereto, it will exert a wiping action upon the lead. By slowlyrotating the pencil during this action, the lead can be brought to anextremely sharp point. The pulverized lead which i removed in this wayis collected in the lower section I of the housing and, as beforestated, can be subsequently used for touch work.

As the belt is operated in the manner described, the tripping finger l5intermittently engages and lifts the arm 4 so as to raise the ta-DDet I;out of contact with the lower portion of the belt l0. Thereafter theseparts are released and will fall by gravity back to their normalpositions so that the tappet thus will strike the belt and dislodge anyfine particles of lead which may be adhering thereto.

It will be noted that that portion of the tappet the accumulated dust.

What i claimedis:

1. The combination with a housing having a pencil inlet at one end, ofan inclined endless belt movably supported in the housing and positionedfor engagement by the exposed end portion of the lead of the pencil,means for operating the 'belt, and means actuated by the movement of thebelt for intermittently agitating the belt.

2. The combination with a housing having an opening for the reception ofa pencil having exposed lead at one end, of a belt supported in thehousing and having an abrasive surface, said belt having one flightinclined relative to the axis of the pencil-receiving openin thereby topresent an inclined abrasive surface to the exposed portion of the lead,means for actuating the belt, and means operated by the movement of thebelt for intermittently tapping a portion of the belt..

3. A device for pointing the lead of a pencil and accumulating lead dustfor touch work,

which includes a housing having an opening proportioned to receive apencil a portion of the lead of which is exposed, an endless belt in-thehousing, means for movably supporting the belt with one surface thereofinclined. relative to the inserted pencil, means for actuating the beltalong and longitudinally of the exposed portion oi the lead, said belthaving an abrasive surface for contacting the lead, and means foroperating the belt.

4. A device for pointing the lead of a pencil and accumulating lead dustfor tcuch work, which includes a housing having an opening proportionedto receive a pencil i portion of the lead 01' which is exposed, anendless belt in the housing, means for'movably supporting the belt withone surface thereof inclined relative to the inserted pencil, means foractuating the belt along I and longitudinally of the expoad portion ofthe lead, said belt having an abrasive surface for contacting the lead,means for operating the belt, a tappet mounted for oscillation in thehousing and surrounded by the belt,- a tripping element movable with thebelt-operating means, and means actuated by said element forintermittently lifting and releasing the tappet, said tappet beingnormally in engagement with a portion of the belt.

Y NATHANIEL nas'num.

